Meat-clamping means for slicing machines



. Dec. 31, 1929. E. COULSON ,0

MEAT CLAMPING MEANS FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed May 7. 1928 frwenl'or Edwin 001116017, 3) Wk r/flaw '01;

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Patented Dec. 31, 1929 PATENT OFFICE 7 EDWIN COULSON, OF CHISWICK, LONDON, ENGLAND MEAT-CLAMPING MEANS FOR SLIGING MACHINES Application filed May 7, 1928, Serial No. 275,924, and in Great Britain June 1, 1927.

This invention has reference to an improved meat clamping means for slicing machines.

In connection with meat slicing machines it is usual to secure the meat to the slicing platform by means of a clamping device which usually takes the form of a bar-llke member which is slidably mounted at either end on uprights disposed one on either side of the slicing platform and it will be appreciated that the presence of the said uprights causes an obstruction which may, under some circumstances, militate against the rapid and eilicient positioning of the meat to be sliced.

The present invention has for its object the provision of an improved meat clamping device which does not obstruct access to the slicing platform and which is automatically locked in any set position.

The invention consists of an improved meat clamping device for use with slicing machines, characterized by a clamping bar pivotally mounted at its centre to a lever having a pivotal connection with a relatively fined support, said support being provided with a cam face which co-operates with a cam carried by and rotatably mounted relatively to the said lever, said cam being pivotally connected to one end of a rod, the other end whereof has pivotal connection to a trigger handle pivotally mounted on the lever adjacent the outer end thereof, a spring means preferably being embodied for maintaining the cam in its acting position.

The invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in front elevation a meatclamping device constructed in accordance with the invention for use with meat slicing machines.

A bar-like member 1 provided on its underside with a plurality of prongs 1 is pivotally mounted at its upper end on apin 2 carried in jawsB formed intermediate the ends of a lever 3, the one end whereof is fulcrumed on a spindle l carried by a support 5 fixed to the slicing platform 5. Adjacent the fulcrum the said support 5* is formed with a cam face 5 which cooperates with a cam 6 carried by and rotatably mounted relatively to the said lever 3, the aforesaid cam 6 being pivotally connected to one end of a rod 7', the other end whereof has pivotal connection to a trigger handle 8 pivotally connected to the lever adjacent the aforesaid end thereof. Intermediate its length the said rod is provided with a flange 7 one face whereof serves as an abutment for one end of a coil spring 9 which is concentrically disposed about the said rod, the other end of the coil spring bearing against an abutment 3 carried by the lever. This spring normally tends to maintain the cam in its acting position relatively to the cam face.

The operation of the clamping device is $5 as follows:

W hen it is desired to clamp a piece of meat to the slicing platform the trigger handle 8 is gripped and moved in a clockwise direction thereby actuating the rod 7 and rotating the acting face of the cam 6 out of contact ith the cam face 5 on the support 5 thereby permitting of the movement of the lever 3. The lever 3 is then pressed in a downward direction until the clamping bar 1 is in firm 7? engagement with the meat 10 and secures the same to the slicing platform 5, the trigger handle 8 is then released and under the action of the spring 9 the cam 6 bears on the cam face 5" carried by the support 5 such that any tendency to the upward movement of the lever 3 tends to effect a movement of the cam 6 which causes a tighter frictional engagement between the cam 6 and the cam face 5 whereby the firm gripping of the meat is ensured.

When it is desired to release the meat it is only necessary to grip the trigger handle 8 and to free the cam 6 when the clamping bar can be raised.

The cam surface 5 on the support 5 is preferably formed at the upper end with a cutaway portion 5 which serves as a locating means for the cam 6 when the lever 3 is in the uppermost position without necessitatin the operation of the locking means.

It will be appreciated that the clamping bar is self aligning relatively to the meat required to be secured to the slicing platform.

Claim A meat clamping device for use with slicing machines comprising a slicing table, a fixed support carried by said slicing table and having a cam face, a lever pivotally connected at one end to said fixed support, a clamping bar pivotally connected at its centre to said lever, a cam rotatably mounted on said lever and adapted to cooperate with said cam face, a rod pivotally connected at one end to said cam a handle pivotally mounted on the lever and connected to the other end of said rod, a flange on said rod, an abutment on the lever, a spring disposed about said rod and adapted to abut at one end the flange on the rod and at the other end the abutment on the lever, said spring normally pressing on the rod and serving to maintain the cam inits acting position relatively to the cam face, said support having a cut-away portion at the upper end of the cam surface, said outaway portion serving as a locating means for the cam when the lever is in the uppermost position whereby said lever is maintained in the uppermost position without necessitating any locking engagement between the cam and the cam face.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDVIN COULSON. 

